Scales › Neapolitan major

Neapolitan major scale

minor below, major above

Neapolitan major on the guitar: the fretboard diagram

Here is the Neapolitan major scale laid out across the whole neck, from fret 0 to fret 15. The guide tones (3rd and 7th) are highlighted — they're what makes the scale's color sing. Use the key selector above to shift the shape along the neck and find the positions in your key.

What color?

Like the Neapolitan minor but with major 6 and 7 (R b9 b3 11 5 13 7): minor in the low range, major in the high, a color both bright and strange.

Origin & history

The major variant of the Neapolitan (minor second, but major 6th and 7th). A scale of Classical theory, used for its expressive tension color.

Which chords to play it on?

Outside the functional consensus: this is an exploration color. Lay it over a vamp or a held chord to tint your improvisation with an unexpected flavor, rather than inside a cadence.

Try it in a real chart

Paste a chord chart into the tool: Pentania tells you, chord by chord, when this scale fits — and what other colors are open to you. Open the tool →